Whisky meets design in a way that’s anything but expected.
Milan Design Week is about to get a dose of industrial artistry, courtesy of Samuel Ross and The Balvenie. The British designer and the storied whisky maker are joining forces for TRANSPOSITION, an immersive installation set to open on April 8 in Milan’s Isola district.
Ross—whose multidisciplinary practice spans fashion, sculpture, and interiors—has transformed an old foundry into a sculptural environment that plays with form, texture, and the elements. Elevated copper structures nod to the whisky distillation process, while water—what The Balvenie calls “vertical rivers”—flows throughout the space, creating an atmosphere that’s equal parts alchemic and architectural. Mist, shadow, light, and sound layer in, adding to the multisensory experience.
The collaboration stems from a shared reverence for craft. The Balvenie’s Fifty Collection—an ultra-rare series of aged whiskies rooted in generations of expertise—finds a natural parallel in Ross’ approach to materials and construction. The designer, known for his industrial aesthetic and rigorous explorations of form, has long championed the value of artisanal processes. TRANSPOSITION is the meeting point of these two worlds, a place where tradition and innovation collide.
Visitors can step inside from April 8 to 11 at the Historic Foundry in Isola. Expect your senses—and maybe even your perception of whisky—to shift.
